Humidity in your home can make you very uncomfortable—especially hot summer weather. What’s more, persistent damp can cause health hazards in some cases. A high level of moisture in the air can promote mold growth. To stay comfortable and healthy, you need to know how to lower indoor humidity for cool comfort during summer. How do you reach that ideal indoor humidity range of 30–50 percent?
How to Lower Indoor Humidity During Summer: 5 Simple Methods
1. Ventilate Everywhere
Proper ventilation can help lower humidity. Turn off the air conditioner and open your windows during the cool hours of the day. This will let fresh air circulate through the house. A nice breeze can help bring down latent humidity.
Also, long, hot showers are luxurious—but they produce a huge amount of humidity. Always use the ventilation fan in the bathroom. In addition, open the bathroom window (if practical) to lower the temperature.
In the kitchen, you can also use a fan over the stove. It can help bring down the amount of heat produced during cooking.
Finally, keep your ceiling fans running. Any way you can increase air circulation in the house is one of the best ways how to lower indoor humidity.
2. Use a Dehumidifier
Running a dehumidifier is an excellent way to lower humidity. And, because it’s easier to cool less humid air, this excellent indoor climate control machine can also reduce your AC costs in the long run. A system-wide dehumidifier fits in your air furnace handler. There, it removes moisture as the air passes through. By the time you feel the air, it’s cold and dry—an excellent feeling for summer comfort. And that’s not the only benefit. By using a dehumidifier, you may even reduce the amount of time your AC unit needs to run. And that will save wear and tear, causing you to need fewer air conditioner repairs.
3. Keep All Surfaces Dry
One of the simplest ways to reduce humidity (that few people think of) is to keep all surfaces dry. Wipe down your sink and counter area after washing your dishes. Use a squeegee to take water off your shower walls when you’re done. Also, dry out your sink after you finish brushing your teeth. If the water is left to evaporate, it goes straight into your home’s air. And, as we discussed, moist air can lead to mold formation.
4. Turn the Air Conditioner On
Remember #1 and how we recommended that you open the windows? Well, anyone who knows how to lower indoor humidity knows this: once the air warms up, turn on the AC right away. You should also run it overnight. By doing so, you’ll let the system start removing humidity. As warm air exits and is replaced by cooler air, your home’s humidity will naturally drop. Make sure you change the filter regularly for the best air flow!
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Now you know how to lower indoor humidity for comfort this summer. It’s time to put those tips into action! At Neal’s Heating & Air, we want you stay cool—and we’re ready to help. If you notice a drop off in performance, don’t hesitate. Simply give us a call at (706) 764-7185 and we’ll help restore you to cool comfort.